BERACHOS 12 - Dedicated by Mrs. G. Kornfeld for the Yahrzeit of her mother, Mrs. Gisela Turkel (Golda bas Chaim Yitzchak Ozer), on 25 Av. Mrs. Turkel was an exceptional woman with an iron will who loved and respected the study of Torah.

SUMMARY

1. There were attempts to incorporate the reading of the Aseres ha'Dibros into morning prayers everywhere, not only in the Beis ha'Mikdash.

2. The Gemara discusses the case of one who makes a mistake during a blessing on wine or beer.

3. There was an attempt to include the Parshah said by Bil'am as part of Keri'as Shema.

4. The Gemara explains why the Parshah of Tzitzis was instituted to be said as part of Keri'as Shema, when there are many other Parshiyos that mention Yetzi'as Mitzrayim.

5. There is a dispute about whether one must say the last Parshah of Keri'as Shema at night.

A BIT MORE

1. However, since the heretics would start saying that the Jews instituted only the parts of the reading of the Torah that were in fact given by Hashem, they decided against it.

2. For example, the Gemara says that if a person held a glass of wine and thought it was beer, and he started saying the blessing on beer but realized his mistake and finished with the blessing on wine, he fulfills his obligation. Even if he would have finished his blessing by saying the blessing of Shehakol, he would fulfilled his obligation b'Di'eved, since one always fulfills his obligation b'Di'eved with the blessing of Shehakol.

3. This was because the verse there states, "He bowed and lied down like a lion, and like a lioness that will get him up." Since this verse refers to how Hashem watches over us when we lie down and get up, it is appropriate to be recited during Keri'as Shema, which is said when we lie down and get up.

4. The Parshah of Tzitzis is included in Keri'as Shema because it includes mention of five things: the Mitzvah of Tzitzis, Yetzi'as Mitzrayim, the yoke of Mitzvos, distancing oneself from heretical ideas, and distancing oneself from sinful thoughts.

5. Rebbi Elazar ben Azaryah and Ben Zoma: The word "all" in the verse, "In order that you should remember the day you went out of Egypt all the days of your life," includes remembering it at night, and therefore we should recite it at night. Chachamim: The word "all" includes during the time of Mashi'ach, but not at night.